DARPA Has Created Self-Guided Sniper Bullets Capable of Changing Path in Mid-Flight

Snipers play a vital role in neutralizing high value targets from a distance in a battlefield. Being a sniper, you are always expected to hit the target. Failure to do so can put the safety of fellow troops under critical risk as the gun shot exposes location. Factors like strong winds, poor visibility greatly alter a sniper’s shot accuracy.

DARPA’s Extreme Accuracy Tasked Ordnance (EXACTO) took upon this task to improve accuracy, shooting range and safety for military snipers. DARPA recently conducted the first successful live-fire tests demonstrating in-flight guidance of .50-caliber bullets. The EXACTO 50-caliber round has been claimed to be the first ever self-guided small calibre bullet.

The bullet use special optical sighting technology and integrated real-time guidance system to manoeuvre its projectile path in mid-flight to hit the target precisely and effectively. DARPA didn’t let out much of the technical details as it’s only the second prototype that has been tested. However, it released a video of EXACTO 50-caliber rounds taking out target at 1.2 miles by changing its flight path to hit it.

The video link below shows a live testing of DARPA’s guided bullet with the rifle intentionally aimed to the right of the target. While the bullet can be seen altering its trajectory to strike the distant target accurately.

With successful initial testing, DARPA is looking to improve this technology to ensure maximum accuracy, better in-flight sensing & guidance systems that can operate in all weather conditions.